Description Evan R. Fraser Poetry

Sept 1953 (written when he was 84)

 

Another milestone reaches me

With calm and quiet dignity;

As if to say outside the door,

“old chap you now are eighty-four”

 

“And what of that?” to hi I would say,

“Sure everyone must have his day,”

The years have come and they have gone;

But still I’m able to carry on.

 

I now not what a day may bring,

Yet to this life each day I cling.

In service for my Saviour, Lord,

According to his holy word.

 

I’ve found this world a lovely place,

Upheld by God’s unfailing grace.

Regardless of the fact of sin,

I’ve had close fellowship with him.

 

For that my fondest hopes aspired,

To work for him my soul was fired,

True, Satan’s wiles I had to fight,

To find and walk the way that’s right.

 

At every turn temptation stood,

To hinder me when doing good,

Yet through it all God held me fast,

And will do so while life shall last.

 

But yet, I will confess,

Oft’times I surely made a mess

Of many things I tried to do,

Although at heart wished to be true.

 

In early life I had big plans;

What I would do with mind and hands,

But Bobbie Burns so true did say,

“Our best maid plans gang aft agley.”

 

I have a wife and children four,

Now say, what would I wish for more?

That’s better far than fame or gold,

For me as I am growing old.

 

Yes, they have been to me most kind,

A _ to the heart and mind

And other friends I surely prize;

Their friendship is a sweet surprise

 

As time is ever on the wing,

I must be ready for my King,

To meet him in the realms above,

Where all is peace and joy and love.

-Evan R. Fraser

 

 

 

 

Our Absent Boys (1943)

 

For our absent boys we breathe a prayer

To the God who doth our burden bear,

He knows and sees what we cannot see

And he understands what is to be.

 

Our prayers then will ascend to him,

Who gave his beloved to save us from sin.

Well leave them in his loving care,

May he watch over them every where.

 

In the trackless air and the mighty deep

May his loving arms them safely keep,

If his eye befriends when a sparrow falls

He will surely hear our prayerful calls.

 

Oh burdened hearts with grief now torn

Who are called upon to fret an mourn,

Look up and trust whatever betides,

And know that God with them abides.

-Evan R. Fraser

 

 

 

 

The Aftermath

 

All throughout our little province,

There is consideration great;

For a proud and boastful party,

Met a sad and cruel fate.

 

Everywhere there’s bitter wailing,

Ah, it was a mighty sweep;

Some are happy, very happy,

Others are inclined to weep.

 

In the country, towns are cities,

There is sadness and dismay;

For the proud and reckless party

Have been almost swept away.

 

Now the public mind has spoken,

And the voice is loud and clear;

We have given you a mandate,

Let the little fellows hear.

 

Clear the decks of all the rubbish,

May there dawn a better day,

Since the proud and reckless party

Had their last and final say.

 

Cheer boys, cheer for Dawn F. Fraser,

And for Joe MacQuarrie too:

This is surely a great victory,

For they fought the battle through.

 

Cheer boys for our noble leader,

Angus L, we’re proud of you:

Onward then, and lead your party

To the goal of action true.

 -Evan R. Fraser

 

 

 

 

Turning Homeward

 

When we come to the end of  a toilsome day,

And our weary feet turns home

To our loved ones there with a smile to bless,

E will never want to roam.

 

Yes, its home, dear home, if there is love and peace,

For the tired mind to rest,

There is no place on earth that will equal that,

Where there’s love we’re truly blest.

 

Yes, its home, dear home with winning charm,

And we love to linger long,

With our loved ones there, where there’s love and peace,

And a smile, and mirth, and sons.

-Evan R. Fraser

 

 

 

 

The Fading Light

 

I stood where oft I stood before,

And viewed the western sky,

As if within an open door,

I saw that God was nigh.

 

There beauty stretched from pole to pole,

An unforgettable sight,

I watched with rapture in my soul,

The fading of the light.

 

Soft hung clouds adorns with ease

The firmament above,

At once the scene my mind doth please

And promptly my heart to love.

 

How lovely is the evening hour,

Then memory’s halls are bright

And love sends forth a copious shower,

When fades the evening light.

 

Those golden memories still cling

As ivy round the vine,

And love’s rich tones so sweetly rings

With echoes so sublime.

 

Come back, come back, O tenfer years

With vision clear and bright,

Linger a while, dispel all fears,

As fades the evening light.

-Evan R. Fraser

 

 

 

 

Sacred Memories

 

I bare my head as here I stand

Beneath this Elm Tree,

For sacred memories arise

Appealing strong to me.

 

Here was the gospel first proclaimed

Along this valley fair,

The preacher told of God’s great love

And offered fervent prayer.

 

How precious was the word of God,

To them the longer for light,

When listening to the message given,

Were stirred with visions bright.

 

Here ‘mid the rugged scenes so vast

Far from their native sod,

There still remained within their breast,

A thought of home and God.

 

How brave our forebears were and strong,

With daring hearts and skill,

To venture forth through forests deep,

With an unyielding will.

 

Out of those forests they did carve,

Home humble, crude and bare,

But _ to God morning and night,

Ascended earnest prayer.

 

Long since they’re voice had silent been,

Their dust lies neath the sod,

But sacred memories remain,

While they rest with their God.

-Evan R. Fraser